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ABA Grants Re-Approval For Legal Studies Program At Hilbert

HAMBURG, N.Y. – At its mid-year meeting in February, the American Bar Association House of Delegates granted re-approval to the Legal Studies Program at Hilbert College.

Hilbert’s paralegal studies program is the oldest and most established paralegal program in Western New York. It has also been approved by the ABA since 1977 and is a charter member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.

The program has BS and AAS degrees with flexible scheduling for day, evening and hybrid-format courses. The paralegal courses at Hilbert are taught by experienced attorneys who are experts in their fields. Internships are available and tailored to the student’s goals. Graduates go on to rewarding careers in law firms, corporate legal departments, government, non-profits, banking, insurance, and the public sector.

According to the ABA website, the principal objective of the ABA program of approving paralegal education programs that meet ABA Guidelines is to foster high quality paralegal education and training and the development of educational standards.

The Standing Committee on Paralegals and Approval Commission carry out this objective through an intensive review and on-site evaluation of such programs. The guidance and direction of the ABA through the Standing Committee and its Approval Commission has led to the development of superior paralegal education programs designed to raise the competence of those individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services.

The approval process is accomplished through extensive investigation of self-evaluation reports prepared by the paralegal programs as well as through on-site evaluations of program operations to verify that they operate in compliance with ABA Guidelines. Programs that successfully complete the evaluation process are approved for a period of seven years.

Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 1,100 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college’s engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college’s first graduate programs and new Accelerated Degree Programs geared to adult learners.